The BBC Microcomputer Page

The History of the BBC Micro In
T&T

The BBC Micro or "Beeb" as it was commonly known was the result of
efforts by the British Broadcasting Corp to provide computer literacy
and access to as many people in the United Kingdom as humanly
possible. For a more in depth look at the development of the BBC
Micro go to David Schmit's home page:
The BBC Lives!

I have decided to write a short historical essay of my own for our
own Beeb. This compliments and expands on what I wrote in my
background page. I hope you find this interesting.

Special thanks to Dr Barnes and my
dad, Mr Boyd Reid, for assisting me with this web project.

NOTE: This page is still UNDER
CONSTRUCTION.

The following text is still sketchy and incomplete. .
.proceed with CAUTION

In The Beginning. . .

Writers from the 'Golden Age' of science fiction, Asimov,
Clarke, Harrison, even Wells and Verne, wrote about the use
of technology by the everyday user. Science fiction dared to
explore the possibilities of the future and what it could be
like if computers were common place, powerful and usable by
everyone. Arthur C. Clarke's vision of the future in 2001,
though still not realised, comes closest to the reality that
is the new millennium. Computers have made it easier for man
to achieve a certain level of advancement. The spreading of
the technology to as many who could afford it led to a
greater awareness of its potential and so we are advancing
faster, technologically, than we are mentally or physically.
The presence of the home computer allowed a greater number
of people to explore the scientific and technological side
of their being that hitherto was reserved for the university
professors and technicians. Suddenly anybody, who owned a
computer, could tap into the information that became so
vital for the advancement of the species.

Therefore the development of the home computer market
became important for various interests who saw the need to
put the power of the computer in the hands of the ordinary
person. This 'democratising' of computer technology allowed
the creation of competition to create the fastest, smallest
and by extension, cheapest computer. From the time the
microchip was invented to the present day, two decades have
revealed industrial advancement that surpasses the original
Industrial Revolution at the turn of this century.

Stephen Jobs and his partner Steve Wozniak built their
first computer in a garage, in 1985, utilising the new chip
technology that allowed for powerful calculations within a
smaller space.1The Apple II was built to provide everyone
with computer access, in this case various interest groups
that recognised the need to own an 'advanced calculating'
machine. However before the development of the Apple line of
computers another company was commissioned to develop a
computer for the average user. This company was Acorn and it
was commissioned by the British Government.
"In the very early 80's BBC (British Broadcasting
Corporation) Education started what became the "BBC Computer
Literacy Project" This was started largely in response to a
BBC documentary called "The Mighty Micro" in which a
professor predicted the coming computer revolution, and how
important it would be to the economy, industry and lifestyle
of the country (i.e. the United Kingdom). It was a very
influential film - questions were asked in parliament after
it was shown.
The BBC wanted to base its project around a computer that
was capable of doing all of the various things it wanted to
demonstrate in its series "The Computer Program" (1981)
extremely well. It needed to be capable of
Teletext/Telesoftware, comms, Controlling Hardware,
Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Graphics, Sound and
Music, etc. It decided to badge a micro, drew up a
specification and asked for takers. . ."2 (Schmit, Jeffery, et
al.)

Apple, therefore was not the first computer directed at
the 'home market.' in fact in was one of many that
mushroomed out of the success of the advent of the
Microcomputer. Apple was just more well known. Other micros
that came on the scene were the VICs, Commodore 64's, Tandys
as well as a host of others, including the famed Atari
series.3

Computers suddenly became small but powerful and cheap
enough for the average income owner to purchase. In Trinidad
and Tobago the computer revolution was slightly delayed.
Technological advances began with the exploitation of the
oil industry in the 30's and 40's. Technology was therefore
reserved for the oil producers. By the 1970's an economic
boom brought on by the increase in oil prices on the world
market enabled companies to expand their resources and
investors looked at the expansion of technology in other
areas to boost productivity. Banks, finance corporations,
auditors, government offices, insurance brokers as well as
import and export houses invested heavily in the computer
industry. Large mainframes and mini frames dotted the
professional houses of the nation and soon everyone was
being trained to program and operate these machines.

By the time Jobs and Wozinak exited their garage holding
the new revolution in their hands, Trinidad and Tobago had
already begun to look at microcomputers for their own
market. Companies realised that in house training was
becoming time-consuming and costly, not enough was being
done in the school system to create a new local professional
class of 'technologists' to supply the demand for computer
users. Slowly the nation was waking up to the realisation
that they would be left out of the technological race and
the focus then changed to education.

The BBC micro was the perfect machine for education. It
was fast and easy to use, utilising BASIC as its primary
operating system and was easy to set up, requiring a
television set and a table. Trinidad and Tobago's link to
its former "mother country" Britain, made the BBC even more
accessible. A company was created to supply the
microcomputer market in Trinidad and Tobago. Based in the
capital, Port of Spain, Minicomputer Accounting began
Trinidad and Tobago's first microcomputer sales,
specialising in various brands of
Microcomputers4,
including the Acorn BBC Micro. MCA concentrated on the home
market and immediately received buyers. It was through the
efforts of MCA that BBC users met to discuss their
purchases, their problems and solutions. This natural
gravitation to other users with similar experiences and
problems led to the creation of the BBCMUG.